To the editor: Who are the highway robbers? In my opinion, all the politicians in Washington — mostly Conservative Republicans — who say they want to fix the Social Security program when in reality they just want to defund it.

They want to categorize Social Security as an entitlement, even going as far as trying to incorporate Social Security in with Medicare. If they do that, we all know that it's not going to save Medicare, because it is drowning in red ink and producing a deficit of $1 trillion a year.

These robbers have already taken all the Social Security surplus money and put it into their general budget, and now instead of a surplus we have over $3 trillion in IOUs that the government owes the Social Security program. If they run out of toilet paper in Washington, they can use all these IOUs. At least they will still get some use out of them because right now they are totally worthless.

In an effort to defund Social Security, for the past two years there has been a 2 percent decrease in the amount employees pay into Social Security. In reality, instead of giving it back to us as a payroll deduction it is just being taken out of the Social Security funding. That leaves 4.2 percent that employees have been paying. This is supposed to be matched by the employers, but so far they are still paying 6.2 percent.

At the end of this year, the President and the Republican majority in Congress will want to continue taking 2 percent less out of employees' paychecks. Then the lobbyists will put pressure on them to take 2 percent off the amount the employers are paying into Social Security. It is very possible that we will soon be losing a total of 4 percent in Social Security funding.

Also, it has been over 40 years since the earnings limit of $106,800 has been revisited. For the last 40 years that might have been all right, but now they need to take off the cap and let people pay Social Security on their full earnings. This way, Social Security will be funded for 100 years. This is what we need.

The way these robbers are planning to defund Social Security, in a few years they will push the age that you can begin collecting up to 67 and reduce the amount people can receive. They are going to do this at a time when senior citizens are going to need Social Security more and at an earlier age. I guess you could say that all these people who "have" and don't need Social Security are taking away from the "have nots" who need it.

So watch out, all you seniors on the bus, the robbers are on the road, and now is the time to make sure that we protect Social Security.

John RigazioRetired businessmanRochester

A good deed

To the editor: Dover truly has some great people! On Labor Day, my boyfriend and I stopped at Newick's restaurant on our way home from a wonderful vacation in Maine and New Hampshire. We were halfway home when I realized that I had left my wallet in the ladies room of the restaurant. Obviously, I was extremely upset at the thought of losing my driver's license, insurance cards, etc.

To my great surprise, when I called Newick's, they informed me that someone had found it and turned it in. There wasn't a lot of money in it but whoever turned it in hadn't touched a cent! Yesterday, I received it in the mail from Newick's and I couldn't be more relieved.

I would like to send a great big thank you to the awesome staff at this great restaurant! Also, I wish I knew who the kind, honest person was that turned it in. Whoever you are, please know that I am so grateful! It warms my heart to know that there are still such trustworthy people out there. We will definitely be back to Dover and our first stop will be Newick's. I would love to buy you a lobster dinner for your kindness, whoever you are!

Tara FrenyaRouses Point, NY

Names wanted

To the editor: I am trying to get the names of all the elected Rochester City officials that supported the giveaway of taxpayers money to Obama. I want to vote against them in the next election.

Also, is Rochester legally responsible now to furnish same resources to any and all politicians that request them in the future free?

Charles C. KiehlRochester

Many thanks

To the editor: As the 20th consecutive season of music and dance comes to a close at Maudslay Arts Center in the Maudslay State Park in Newburyport, it is time to recognize and thank the many volunteers, sponsors, and news media that make this amazing outdoor venue a reality each summer.

First we salute the local banks that have supported the center and the arts for many years and allow us to continue to offer excellent musical programs for reasonable cost. The Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank sponsored the Saturday night series, and grants from The Institution for Savings and The Provident Bank helped sponsor the Sunday afternoon family series. This year attendance was up once again thanks to the fine entertainment offered at MAC and the continued publicity by so many media outlets — all the newspapers, magazines, radio stations, cable TV and online services that helped get our message out to the community to insure increasing attendance.

We thank our patrons; the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation, particularly Ron Kovacs and staff at Maudslay State Park for their continued support of this most important regional resource, and the Friends of the Maudslay State Park. On behalf of all of us at Maudslay Arts Center, our deepest thanks and best wishes to all. We hope to see all of you again next summer for our 21st season and in the meantime check our website for future events at www.maudslayartscenter.org

To the editor: It seems that Congressman Paul Ryan, presidential hopeful Mitt Romney's running mate, and NH01 Congressman Frank Guinta, are both afflicted, like Romney, with "Severe Conservatism." Amnesia appears to be the most prevalent symptom of this horrible disease. It's already well known that Mitt has forgotten: about having provided the prototype (Romneycare) for President Obama's Affordable Care Act; that he considered himself pro-choice; at one time believed that man's pollution contributed to climate change; that he didn't rescue America's automobile industry; and that he proclaimed that he "doesn't line up with the NRA."

Congressman Ryan, the House Budget Committee Chairman, experienced amnesia on Boston's WBZ's talk radio show Nightside when host Dan Rea predicted Ryan would be Romney's running mate. Ryan told a caller that he would have never voted against President Obama's America Reinvestment and Recovery Act (AKA stimulus package) and "then write to the government to ask them to send us money." He even directly stated, "I did not request any stimulus money." This week, Ryan, whose Tea-Party took over the House on a platform of lambasting the President's stimulus program, found himself trying to explain away his amnesia over the fact that he had written multiple letters, before the said interview, to government agencies requesting stimulus funds for his Wisconsin district.

Congressman Guinta, another extreme Tea-Partier who voted "yeh" for Ryan's disastrous "Path to Prosperity" budget plan (privatizes Medicare and gives tax cuts to the wealthiest at the expense of middle class), has been battling amnesia since assuming his current office. He recently forgot he was the NH01 incumbent as his campaign placed robocalls all over the district attempting to convince us stupid citizens that challenger Carol Shea-Porter was the incumbent and he the challenger who wants to shake things up. Admittedly, I wouldn't want to be associated with the wildly unpopular do-nothing 112th Congress either.

I am confident that come November the good people of NH01 will remember the lies and tricks of these three Pinocchios and will vote to give them a permanent vacation to convalesce and recover from their "Severe Conservatism" and associated amnesia.

Wayne H. MerrittDover

Shade tree objectivism

To the editor: I'm no literary scholar, but a quick survey down at the local coffee shop will reveal most people claiming to be influenced by the writing of Ayn Rand probably aren't either. In fact, most of us simply cherry-pick what we like from her work and distill it down to the simple Orwellian proclamation that capitalism is good and government is bad.

The same apparently holds for VP hopeful Paul Ryan, a staunch Catholic — along with his running mate and CLS poster-child Mitt Romney. Both willingly pluck what they like from Rand's work while conveniently ignoring her rabid atheism. In fact, Rand detested any candidate bringing religiosity into politics and, before her death in 1982, roundly criticized Ronald Reagan for being "the most dangerous sort of politician". Little doubt what she's have to say about Romney, Ryan, and the GOP platform!

Rand divides her players into "builders" and "takers", with "takers" being the obvious bad guys. Free marketeers and Tea Party devotees are quick to point out that America's "takers" are lazy union workers, welfare cheats, tree-hugging liberals, punks on dope, and other frails of diverse ethnicity. They almost never identify the true grifters who wrack up the really big numbers as extremely bright, well educated, and highly motivated hustlers in suits. Yet, characters like Madoff, Blankfein, Paulson, Pickins, and Adelson didn't come to roll in the leafy spoils of the free market by adhering to Rand's highly moral self-disciplined code of ethics for conducting trade. To get "Romney rich", you must take far more from the system than you ever return.

Should the Republicans carry November, shade-tree objectivists like Ryan and Romney will no doubt cherish the idea of kicking the "collectivist entitlement takers" and "free-market regulators" out of the barnyard. But, aren't all medical and retirement insurance programs "collectivism" by definition, regardless of who runs them? You bet! And isn't mandatory participation in the pool essential to ensure fair distribution of responsibility and adequate funding? Ex-governor Romney apparently thought so.

Finally, what about that nasty pariah we call regulation? If the chickens are too small to protect the hen house and if real-world foxes lacking utopian values can't be trusted to guard it, don't we really need farmer Brown roaming around with a twelve-gauge to keep everyone honest? If recent history is any indicator, you bet your life. Literally!

Rick LittlefieldBarrington

Imagine

To the editor: The Lyrics of the song "Imagine" by John Lennon are full of wisdom and I am of the opinion, if put into practice by society just might change the world.

Muriel M. LucasGainesville, Ga.Formerly of Durham

Please, don't

To the editor: We have just received the roll-out of the voter-fraud legislation. Wow, what a package of tasks presented to local voting districts to prevent non-existent situations. The Legislature elected to control costs, sorry, taxes, have indentured another burden upon local precincts. That is not to be mistaken for the obvious intent to disenfranchise of as much of the voter base as possible. This is saving taxpayer money how?

Does anyone else remember when anarchists were "left wing"? I may be the only one. Now that "centrist" is blasphemy, one wonders how accomplishing anything other than by the finesse of a steam roller can happen. Please remind me why we are fighting worldwide to inflict this flavor of Democracy on the world when the NH Legislature is destroying basic voting rights. No, please don't.

Reid StetsonNewmarket

Power lust

To the editor: Mitt Romney is trying to show President Obama "as a man seething with animosity and power lust."Nothing could be further from the truth. President Obama has his shortcomings (as don't we all)! but this ridiculous claim is so blatantly false, it really doesn't need a denial. Romney is the one lusting for the power to destroy our country and its people. When you look at his record, you can see he would be the most destructive President ever voted in.

Patricia Newhall Barrington

Not the end

To the editor: Kathleen Parker's commentary on Foster's opinion page Aug. 23 ("Todd Akin's Breakin' Heart") certainly lays bare what he really believes about rape victims. She won't get pregnant because her body knows best and will protect her against that evil sperm — and even if she does, well, tough luck: despite his "compassionate heart" and his tearful prayers she will just have to go through with it.

Akin is small potatoes, however. The real story in Parker's tale appears in its fourth column: "Akin co-sponsored legislation with Paul Ryan (the Paul Ryan, now the GOP's presumptive candidate for vice president of the United States) redefining rape as 'forcible rape.' (Versus what?" Parker asks: "voluntary rape?") This legislation is now a part of the Republican Party's official policy platform.

So Akin's and Ryan's views on rape are identical. But Ryan doesn't want to talk about this bill. Thursday, when pressed by a reporter in a televised interview to explain what was meant by "forcible" rape? Ryan's only reply (repeated several times) was "Rape is Rape.

End of Story."

This is not the "End of Story" however. Despite their protestations about the evils of government intervention in our personal lives, if Romney and Ryan win in November, termination of a pregnancy will be forbidden in any circumstances. If the governor of Virginia has his way, compulsory vaginal probes will be administered. Planned Parenthood will be outlawed ("Oh, we've got to get rid of that," Romney has said).

As an alternative to that, I suggest that we get rid of Romney and Ryan in November.

Roger VoglerNewmarket

Not right

To the editor: Governor Romney picked Congressman Paul Ryan as his running mate. In doing so, Romney solidified his intentions to end Medicare as we know it by turning it into a voucher system, shifting thousands of dollars in health care costs to seniors. Millions of seniors are now saving hundreds of dollars on their prescription drugs because ObamaCare is closing Medicare's doughnut hole. In New Hampshire, these new prescription drug discounts have saved 13,000 seniors an average of $620 each!

The Romney-Ryan extreme budget would increase seniors' health costs by $6,350 a year. Ryan has also proposed a plan that would have privatized Social Security, forcing seniors to gamble their retirement savings on Wall Street.

President Obama knows that Medicare is an essential program that must be kept strong for today's seniors and future generations. That's why the health care law protects and strengthens Medicare. For us to move forward as a nation, everyone has to do their fair share — that is why it simply isn't right for Mitt Romney to plan to balance the budget on the backs of America's senior citizens.

Taylor CohenNewfields

Pole tax

To the editor: Telephone pole assessments, for cable companies to electric, should go underground; literally. It would make much more sense than repairing lines and poles every time a wind storm, ice, snow, and damaged trees take them down, with attendant danger to residents and workers. This project would not be new, as it was done in New York City near the 1920s. It would provide thousands of jobs, securing insurance rates for millions, including power and cable companies.

I would make one stipulation: Those areas only 20 feet above sea level should remain on poles. The way the ice sheets are melting, our shorelines are going to shrink well before they grow in the next ice age.

Diane M. StarkeyRochester

Ending Medicare

To the editor: Four years ago, when my parents moved back to the place where their marriage started, I called my father one day on his cell phone. He explained he was very busy, visiting several drug stores to fill various prescriptions for my mother and himself. Then, in his matter-of-fact accountant style, he recited the various costs and savings derived from all this store-hopping. The reason? Their Medicare prescription coverage had become a patchwork of different payment options, each prescription covered differently at each store. They were struggling to keep up with the "doughnut hole" provision in prescription coverage. President Obama' Affordable Health Care act closes the doughnut hole for good.

By picking Congressman Paul Ryan as his running mate, Governor Mitt Romney solidified his intentions to end Medicare as we know it by turning it into a voucher system, shifting thousands of dollars in health care costs to seniors.

The Romney-Ryan extreme budget would increase seniors' health costs by $6,350 a year. Ryan has also proposed a plan that would have privatized Social Security, forcing seniors to gamble their retirement savings on Wall Street.

President Obama knows that Medicare is an essential program that must be kept strong for today's seniors and future generations. That's why the health care law protects and strengthens Medicare. This November, Americans will choose between tax cuts for millionaires at the expense of seniors, or President Obama's plan to reduce our deficit in a balanced way while ensuring that Medicare is there for our grandkids.

Roberta BrancaNewmarket

Sensitive, sane

To the editor: Recently a conservative neighbor wrote to the papers about wanting our U. S. expenditures on foreign aid to be reduced. He advised contacting Secretary of State Clinton about this. That's appropriate, as it's the State Department, jointly with the Department of Defense (DOD), that governs foreign aid related to security and military issues. In May the conservative Cato Institute, because of the NATO Conference in Chicago, said, "now is the time to end this foreign aid to wealthy European countries. The Europeans have a GDP ten times as large as that of Russia. Europe's population is three times as big. The Europeans should defend themselves." Chunks of foreign aid are in the form of military goods. Aren't we helping escalate confrontations, circulating so much U. S.-made armaments and weapon delivery systems on our planet? Time to halt that; more than time to halt spending on over 700 military bases in over 100 countries. Time to halt giving 58% (proposed 2012 fiscal year spending) of our discretionary budget to the Pentagon.

In the August-month reading in my Old Farmer's Almanac is this quotation: "One generation builds the street on which the next generation will walk." We irresponsibly set up our next generations to engage in military conflicts as if they are inevitable. So I agree with my neighbor in wanting our U.S. expenditures on foreign aid to be reduced, as too much goes to fomenting war. I want that street, for my grandchildren's generation, to be productive and Earth — sensitive and sane.

Lynn Rudmin ChongSanbornton

For Dawn Hill

To the editor: These days it can be difficult to find candidates for office that stand out above the rest. However, I know that I'll be voting for Dawn Hill for Maine State Senate this November based on her incredible record of standing up for our area. In Dawn, we have a state senator who has run small businesses, created jobs here in York County, and also gone to bat for us time and again in Augusta. She is a dedicated leader and has always put the entirety of her efforts into serving our communities.

No matter the issue, when something comes up that could affect York County Dawn is there to make sure things go our way. She was instrumental in securing the funding that will allow for the replacement of the Memorial Bridge and the repair of the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge, ensuring the continuance of our vital relationship with New Hampshire. These bridges are critical to the economy of southern Maine and we depend on their future. Indeed, we are all well aware of how big a part of our day to day lives they can be.

Dawn advocates for the legislature to do everything in its power to create an atmosphere that allows for economic growth here in Maine. As a small-business owner, she's well aware of what it takes to successfully fulfill a pro-growth agenda. In times like these, hardly anything could be more important than making sure there are jobs out there for folks to get back on their feet and start rebuilding with. Dawn brings that common sense to Augusta.

I want Dawn Hill to be the one fighting for us in the State Senate and that's why I'm voting for her on Nov. 6.

Joyce LehanYork, Maine

Uninsured?

To the editor: Think about those currently covered under Medicare: about 38 million senior citizens and another 7 million disabled people. How many do you suppose have had a serious illness or chronic health condition that requires medical care? Now imagine insurance companies looking over their applications for health insurance, red stamp at the ready, marking "rejected" on all the applications from those with pre-existing conditions: cancer, Parkinson's, MS, heart conditions, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, etc. The list goes on and on.

This is the Romney/Ryan vision for our seniors. First, they promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare), a key provision of which is that health insurance companies cannot turn down applications from people with pre-existing conditions. The insurance companies are getting their red stamps ready. Then they want to send our senior citizens out into the open commercial health insurance market with a voucher in hand to purchase their own health insurance. That voucher will not go very far when seniors are dumped into the high-risk pool. Tell me again how this is going to bring down health care costs.

Before the advent of Medicare, only about 50% of seniors had health insurance. Is this what we as a society really want to go back to?

Fran BermanExeter

Starving the beast

To the editor: If it seems like Main Street America is riddled with potholes while Wall Street is paved in gold, it probably means the "Plutocrat Diet" is working. Some say it all began in 1978 when conservative economist Alan Greenspan proposed tax cuts as strategy to reign in public-sector expansion. Soon thereafter, President Reagan introduced sweeping revenue cuts to "starve the beast", and rolled out a populist propaganda campaign vilifying government as the archenemy of free enterprise and self-reliance. K-street lobbyist Grover Norquist then followed up with "The Pledge" to coerce the support of Republican lawmakers in Congress.

But, simply "starving the beast" isn't the whole story, because now big business is one election away from slaying it in the street. Indeed, corporate activists from America and abroad, along with their Republican operatives, have been more than candid about their desire to disembowel the fed, eliminate what remains of government regulation, and plunder America's lucrative entitlement markets through privatization.

If you doubt the private sector's resolve, consider the scope of their effort. Why spend billions bankrolling sympathetic anti-government candidates and ever-growing armies of lobbyists? Why provide cushy retirement jobs to elected officials who "play ball"? Why spend millions fronting ideological think tanks and conservative media? Why front sympathetic "experts" to fill powerful appointed positions? All of these efforts, which have accelerated exponentially since the Reagan years, enable the superwealthy to infiltrate government and control policy at pressure points beyond the reach of the ballot box. Their success should speak for itself.

If Main Street 2012 appears barren, with unemployment stuck at record levels while corporate profits soar, what we're looking at is merely the collateral damage resulting from America's systematic starvation by Wall Street's no-show "job creators". If middle-class voters fail to reverse this trend come November, it won't be because the Plutocrats took our voice away from us. It will be because we obediently handed it to them!

Rick LittlefieldBarrington

Remember

To the editor: With only about 2 1/2 months left until the election, we should soon be hearing how the election fairy once again visited Frank Guinta's home and dropped another large sum of "fairy dust" (money) into his account. I'm all atwitter to see how much she leaves this time. Along with his slick, and expensive, mailers, he now has a slick, and expensive TV spot. In it, he touts himself as a conservative money manager in "the NH way."

Really! I know lots of New Hampshire families who are now having a difficult time with their finances, and would probably find their situation much easier if they suddenly discovered $260,000 that they "forgot" they had. I'll bet Frank hoped we had all forgotten about his previous "good fortune." I didn't. And now, neither did you.

Try to remember it, along with his legislative "record" when you go to the polls.